Women in Afghanistan are now ‘banned from talking to each other’

Women who break the rules will be arrested and sent to prison

Announced on Monday, this is the latest rule enforced by the Taliban in a bid to further control the entire female population in the country with women now fearing they will not be able to talk to each other.

Afghanistan's minister for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, Khalid Hanafi said: "Even when an adult female prays and another female passes by, she must not pray loudly enough for them to hear.

"How could they be allowed to sing if they aren't even permitted to hear [each other's] voices while praying, let alone for anything else."

The minister said that "new rules and will be gradually implemented, and God will be helping us in each step we take," and that any woman who dares to break the rules will be arrested and sent to prison.

This move comes as women's rights are further stripped away by the Taliban who took control in of the nation in August 2021 following the USA's exit.

According to the UN, more than 70 decrees, directives, statements, and systemised practices have been implemented to target and control women. 

Lots of these rules include how women speak, such as being banned from loudly speaking in their own homes, not being allowed to be heard outside and speaking if unfamiliar men are present.

Furthermore, all women must completely cover their faces to "avoid temptation and tempting others."

According to rule's approved by the Taliban's supreme leader, women must cover their faces and voices from men if they must leave their homes while they must also be accompanied by a male guardian.

One woman told the Telegraph: "They want us not to exist at all, and there’s nothing we can do about it. 

"They may succeed at some point, as many are taking their lives due to the pressure.

"They think ruling Afghanistan is only about suppressing women– we didn’t commit a crime by being born as women."